Severe maternal outcome in Afghan immigrant women: A study in Tehran, Iran

To evaluate the risk factors for severe maternal outcome (SMO) in Afghan immigrant women.

Women with potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC) were selected. Then risk factors for those PLTC which led to SMO (maternal near-miss or maternal death) were evaluated. In addition, risk factors for those SMOs occurring on hospital admission or during the first 12 hours after admission to the hospital (SMO12) were evaluated.

Parity ≥3 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-6.50, P = 0.03), low literacy level in mother (aOR 2.99, 95% CI 1.16-5.01, P = 0.03), inadequate prenatal care (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.2-3.87, P = 0.01), multigravidity (gravidity ≥5: aOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.31-4.53, P = 0.03), lack of health insurance (aOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.25-4.02, P = 0.01), and low literacy level in husband (aOR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.15-2.9, P = 0.02) were the risk factors for SMO in women with PLTC. Inadequate prenatal care (aOR 4.2, 95% CI 2.05-8.25, P = 0.04), low literacy level in mother (aOR 3.38, 95% CI 1.32-6.65, P = 0.04), parity ≥3 (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.16-4.7, P = 0.04), and lack of health insurance (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.25-3.67, P = 0.03) were risk factors for SMO12.

There was a higher rate of SMO and SMO12 cases among Afghan immigrant women.